They will make significant strides forward in restructuring after the merge with Sterling, and continue to manage their debts more than acceptably. They also seem to be historically conservative, which is a good thing in a bank--I'm using as a direct reference point Washington Mutual in the years before it failed, and its total lack of judgment.

Merger/acquisition completed in 2014 with Sterling Financial. Should see improving results calendar year 2015. Customer focused regional banking company with good dividend. Eventual increase in fed interest rates should be a catalyst as well.

This is the friendliest bank in the world -free cookies, coffee, and chocolate - my store (branch) even has a garage door which they open up on warm sunny days - they display local merchants wares and promote community projects . Their online interface is easy and reliable and you can even talk to them on the phone. They recently bought Banner Banks - *****

Perhaps a little early to buy, but this is a well run regional banking enterprise which is positioning itself well to benefit as banks again become more profitable. Will need some help in interest rates so its hard to tell how long that might be. In the meantime, dividend is decent and stock is relatively cheap.

I live in the Pacific Northwest and have had the opportunity to work directly with several of the Regional banks on a professional basis. Each of these Regionals calls the PNW "home". Each has had their share of challenges and headlines to deal with, as well as the necessity of raising capital/equity. Many different strategies have been followed in this "survival" process, as well as communication methods to investors and the general public. Those two behaviors are what I've watched most closely, and Umpqua Executives get the best grade of all the pure PNW Regional banks in those two areas. They, like others, still have challenges as our regional economy is weak with high unemployment, etc., but I consider Umpqua the best of the PNW based regionals.

Another institution that has garded against need for government financial bailout. This regional bank will be sought out by investors, in the future inflation period caused by federal reserve dollaar excesses, to make sound decisions and be a self supporting institution.

As an Oregonian, I can tell you that folks from the Northwest prefer to do business locally with a small player than a big bank from the east coast. With the implosion of Washington Mutual, UMPQ will gain marketshare. I believe the worst hits UMPQ will take are already priced into the stock.

I expect this stock to recover from these levels. Long term investors aren't looking to happy, but those looking to average down and those looking to ride the recovery should cause this stock to see higher levels in the next week if not days.

They just watched their number one competitor (WaMu) fall away, leaving the premium retail banking space (at least on the west coast) almost entirely in their hands. Solid organic growth in retail deposits, trading below book value.